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Exports and Labor Demand: Evidence from Egyptian Firm-Level Data

Author

Listed:
  • Berg, Claudia N.

    (World Bank)

  • Robertson, Raymond

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Lopez-Acevedo, Gladys

    (World Bank)

Abstract

Unlike many countries, Egypt did not experience significant labor market improvements following trade liberalization. In this paper, we build upon the earlier work of Robertson et al. (2021) to investigate why increased Egyptian exports did not directly increase employment. To illustrate the relationship between firm-level exporting and employment, we present a simplified general equilibrium model inspired by Melitz (2003) with two sectors: one able to export and one "reserve" sector. This paper tests the implications of this theory using firm-level data from the World Bank's Enterprise Surveys (ES) in 2013, 2016, and 2020. Our firm-level microanalysis demonstrates that while there is a positive employment response to export expansion, this is not occurring at a large enough scale to be felt at the macro level. To seize the benefits of trade, Egypt requires deeper business environment reforms to incentivize large export, labor-intensive sector growth and integrate its economy into global value chains.

Suggested Citation

  • Berg, Claudia N. & Robertson, Raymond & Lopez-Acevedo, Gladys, 2022. "Exports and Labor Demand: Evidence from Egyptian Firm-Level Data," IZA Discussion Papers 15627, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15627
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dutz, Mark A. & Kessides, Ioannis & O'Connell, Stephen & Willig, Robert D., 2011. "Competition and innovation-driven inclusive growth," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5852, The World Bank.
    2. Soderbom, Mans & Teal, Francis, 2004. "Size and efficiency in African manufacturing firms: evidence from firm-level panel data," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 369-394, February.
    3. Andrew B. Bernard & J. Bradford Jensen & Stephen J. Redding & Peter K. Schott, 2007. "Firms in International Trade," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 21(3), pages 105-130, Summer.
    4. Helena Marques, 2015. "Does the Gender of Top Managers and Owners Matter for Firm Exports?," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(4), pages 89-117, October.
    5. Duda-Nyczak, Marta. & Viegelahn, Christian,, 2018. "Exporting, importing and wages in Africa Evidence from matched employer- employee data," ILO Working Papers 994987492202676, International Labour Organization.
    6. Kshitija Dixit & Rupayan Pal, 2010. "The impact of group incentives on performance of small firms: Hausman-Taylor estimates," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(6), pages 403-414.
    7. Robertson,Raymond & Vergara Bahena,Mexico Alberto & Kokas,Deeksha & Lopez-Acevedo,Gladys C., 2021. "International Trade and Labor Markets : Evidence from the Arab Republic of Egypt," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9668, The World Bank.
    8. Francis Teal & Måns Söderbom & Francis Teal, 2000. "Skills, investment and exports from manufacturing firms in Africa," Economics Series Working Papers WPS/2000-08, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
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    10. Noguer, Marta & Siscart, Marc, 2005. "Trade raises income: a precise and robust result," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(2), pages 447-460, March.
    11. M. Soderbaum & F. Teal, 2000. "Skills, Investment and Exports from Manufacturing Firms in Africa," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 13-43.
    12. Alexander Krauss, 2015. "Creating and destroying jobs across East Asia Pacific: a country-level analysis on wages, exports, finance, regulation and infrastructure," IZA Journal of Labor & Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 4(1), pages 1-24, December.
    13. Timothy Halliday & Daniel Lederman & Raymond Robertson, 2018. "Tracking wage inequality trends with prices and different trade models: evidence from Mexico," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 154(1), pages 47-73, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Roche Rodriguez, Jaime Alfonso & Robertson, Raymond & Lopez-Acevedo, Gladys & Zárate, Daniela Ruiz, 2023. "Trade Liberalization and Local Labor Markets in Morocco," IZA Discussion Papers 16213, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    exports; trade; employment; labor market; econometrics; Egypt;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • C1 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General

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